XII. THE RETREAT.
(Par. 426 German I. D. R.).
A retreat under effective hostile fire means annihilation;
only the presence of cover immediately in rear of the fighting
line should induce a commander to come to the weighty
decision of reaching it by running. (Russia). On account
of the great range of modern weapons, defeated troops, on
open ground, cannot escape from fire by running.[1] No rules
can be laid down in regulations as to the conduct of a retreat
after a defeat. As a rule, further resistance is no longer
possible; neither is it practicable to leave some troops in
position to cover the retreat. The defeated force must retire
in a direction perpendicular to the front of the enemy,[2] and
cannot re-form until the fire of the opponent ceases or at
least abates. (Par. 428 German I. D. R.). Artillery which
is moved to the rear at a timely moment, and all available
cavalry should cover the retreat of the infantry, so as to prevent
the hostile cavalry from making the most of its opportunities
for effective action.
To order a retreat at the right moment requires military instinct; rules cannot be laid down in regard to it.
- ↑ Furthermore, the danger of panic should not be underestimated. See Kunz, Kriegsgeschichtliche Beispiele, XIII, p. 49, and XVI. p. 243, in regard to the panic created in a skirmish line near the Bruch Mühle west of Gunstett (Wörth). This skirmish line was running to the rear toward a rallying position and the panic was produced by the command "To the rear. Double Time! March! March!" The panic was nipped in the bud by the energetic action of a mounted field officer. Major v. Below.
- ↑ The 57th Infantry, whose right flank had been enveloped and roughly handled by a counter-attack made by the French, retired to its left rear through the fragments of the 16th Infantry. This caused the two regiments to change places. (The attack made by the 38th Brigade at Mars-la-Tour). Kriegsgeschichtliche Einzelschriften, 25, p. 35.
